Dear Oak Harbor,

We are the parents of April Billiter and we felt an overwhelming need to thank all of you for the tremendous outpouring of love and affection this community has shown to our daughter and our grandson, Cooper.

In the past week you have all wrapped your arms around them. We know that all of you want to do something more to help but words and deeds just seem so inadequate. I would like to say that you have all helped in so many ways by those words and deeds. But in the weeks and months to come our hope is that, should you see our April around town or on base, you not be shy, but rather walk up to her and ask her if she is April Billiter and perhaps squeeze her hand or give her a hug.

By doing so, she will know that you are all still out there for her and Cooper long after the flowers have wilted, the food is gone and the doorbell and phone have stopped ringing.

Our daughter is a wonderful person as those who know her would agree. She loves Greg as do we and while we want him back with us desperately we are comforted in knowing that he was proud to be a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy and would have wanted to leave this world in that very role.

Greg will be buried with the Bronze Star awarded to his father-in-law while serving in Vietnam.

Gary Ehrenfeld HMCS/Retired and Heidi Ehrenfeld